U.S. House Committee Leadership Takes Shape

What happened: Republicans and Democrats are selecting new leaders atop key committees as the 118th Congress gets underway. Committee posts are not official until formally approved by each party’s steering committee.

Key committee posts:

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing & Urban Development

• Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.)
• Ranking Member (To Be Determined)

This committee determines annual transportation spending bills and has provided supplemental investment in highway and transit programs for the previous six years.

House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee

• Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.)
• Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.)

The oversight of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will be this committee’s focus, along with reauthorizing airport construction programs.

House Ways & Means Committee

• Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.)
• Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-Mass.)

The tax-writing committee will have a new Republican leader and is responsible for any revenue raisers for the Highway Trust Fund.

What’s next: Complete committee rosters will be released soon.